NEWPORT NEWS — Menchville High came into the Peninsula District baseball season as the favorite, but also with one big question mark: Offense. By leaving seven runners on base in the first four innings, the Monarchs did little to answer that early.

But playing from behind the whole afternoon, Menchville tied and won its season-opener in the seventh. After Tuesday afternoon's 5-4 home win over Woodside, the Monarchs feel a little better about what they can do at the plate — at least when it matters.

"We proved all that today," first baseman Emory Chopp said of the concerns. "We came back and put five on the board. As long as we win the seventh inning, it's all good."

LeRoy Simmonds' two-on, no-out single to left field tied it, and then Hunter Martin won it with a sacrifice fly to right. After going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position through the first five innings, the Monarchs got it done when it mattered.

"We had chances to break it wide open (earlier), and it just didn't happen," Menchville coach Phil Forbes said. "But what was real good about us on offense is that our three underclassmen came through. Martin and Chopp and Simmonds, they came through with clutch hits.

"I knew if we could get things working on our offense, we'd be tough. We've got the pitching and defense. We're solid all the way around. If we can prove ourselves on offense, we're going to be a tough team."

Woodside, the defending PD champion, took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on Justin Burrell's single to right. In the fourth, Jordan Carter's home run to left-center made it 2-0.

Menchville tied it in the fourth on Tanner Woods' bases-loaded walk and Hunter Webster's RBI groundout. But in the top of the fifth, the Wolverines went up 4-2 on Burrell's two-run single.

Menchville got a run back in the sixth on Chopp's RBI single, but it blew a chance for more by leaving a runner at second with nobody out. Tim Perry relieved Woodside starter Kyle Westfall and got the final two outs on a fly ball and strikeout.

But in the seventh, Perry couldn't find the strike zone. He walked the first two batters on five pitches each and gave up a run-scoring single to left by Simmonds to tie it. He went to 3-0 on Jordan Wright before being relieved by Anthony Rouleau, who threw ball four to load the bases.

Martin then hit a fly ball to right, which Woodside's Torin Porter bobbled while trying to make the exchange. It didn't matter — the ball was plenty deep enough to score Alex Korecky from third.

"I tried to get some air under it because I knew we had a fast runner at third," Martin said.

For Woodside, it was dejection.

"Obviously when you're up 4-3, you let one get away," Wolverines coach Kevin Hare said. "There's no doubt about that."

Menchville was playing without Evan Forrest, its leadoff hitter and probable starter on the mound, who has a knee injury.

"He's been cleared to play, but we're going to wait until he's pain-free," Forbes said. "These kids really rose to the occasion."